Monochromatic Card in Turquoise/Aqua

"Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time."
                                                           --------Kyoya

Hi, Friends......

Today I am sharing with you a pretty monochromatic card.  This is for a bridal shower, but it could be for any lady occasion.

 I got to use a lot of fun toys on this one:  die cuts, new embossing folder, Prima flowers, thrift store lace ribbon, sparkly embossing powder, Zva swirl, sequin string, etc....and lots and lots of layers!!  

Here's a zoomed in photo to show you the pretty dry embossing I did on the white cardstock with my new Darice Cherry Blossom Embossing Folder.  LOVE IT!!!  

You can also see the gorgeous Gwyneth Flourish.  I won this die from Memory Box (THANKS, Memory Box!!) and it is one of my favorites!!!  I paired a couple of them up here to make a loose frame.  I love how the tendrils spring up a bit when the cut comes out of the die.....adding a touch of 3-D to my card.  (It might just be a result of this beginner's technique, though!!  Ha!) 


I have a hard time staying away from my various butterfly stamps, don't I?!  I heat embossed this pretty one with white sparkly embossing powder on vellum.  I layered two cuts together and lifted the wings a little bit on the top one.  Love the delicate look the vellum brings.

I made a band with thrift store lace ribbon over a strip of DCWV patterned paper from my stash and used a long-horded string of sequins a Secret Santa sent me years ago!  I love what the sequins add to it!! 

Please notice the sparking Zva swirl.  The rhinestone portions were originally a pale blue color, so I altered them with a teal Sharpie to coordinate better.  I think the match is pretty good! :)   The pearl strand and the leaves at the end of the rhinestones are the original colors.

I finished the card with some pretty Prima and Pink Paislee flowers.

  
Hope you enjoyed my card.  Thank you so much for all the lovely comments you leave.  They are very encouraging to me!!!  Thanks, also, to my three new followers. (happy dance!!)

Have a lovely Spring day!!

<3
Janis

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Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Crafty Cardmakers #115 - It's a Bug's Life 
2.  Eureka Stamps Challenge #87 - Lace and Pearls
3.  Suzy Bees Bloomin' Challenge #26 - Wings 
4.  Fairytale Stamper Challenge #37 - Bingo (Lace, Die, Flowers) Anything Goes
5.  Addicted to Stamps Challenge #81 - Things with Wings
6.  Fashionable Stamping Challenge #71 - Flying Things 
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Exotic Oriental Card -- Exploring New Areas

"A cat is a Regency gentleman --  elegant of pose, exquisite of manner, with spotless linen and an enthusiasm for bare knuckle fights, rampaging love affairs, duels by moonlight, and the singing of glees.  He expects immaculate service from his domestic staff."
                                                                                  ------------ Pam Brown


Hi, Friends........

Today I am sharing a very different card from my usual style.  I saw that MFP Speedy TV was having an Oriental Sketch challenge, so I decided to play along.  This is my first attempt at an Asian looking card.  The jury is still out on how successful I was!

 



Here's the sketch that I was trying to emulate:

 

I started out by using some wonderful papers and a fascinating Asian postage stamp rubber stamp that I received as part of a prize from the lovely Jennifer Frith.   (THANKS, Jenny!!)  

Jenny is an amazing artist/illustrator and is such a sweetheart.  Please go check out her blog, Jenny's
Sketchbook, and prepare to be charmed!!!  You will LOVE her adorable animal paintings!!!

Here you can get a better look at the stamp on the mulberry paper, and also see the gold filigree ribbon I have used on several of my cards.  This is the end of that lovely thrift store spool.......such a beautiful find for 40 cents!! 

I got this fabulous Asian looking bow at the same thrift store for 10 cents!!  I knew it would be perfect for a card someday.  :)  Can you see the pretty gleam of the gold thread?

I put a notched piece of gold ribbon under the bow, and also added a gold embossed panda (shaded with distress ink to show the image better) to the lower corner of the center panel.  I edged a couple of the pieces with gold marker for accent and then it all got mounted onto a shimmery gold card base. 


I am still undecided as to how well I like this card.....but the exotic motifs and unfamiliar color combinations were super-fun and challenging to work with.  Thanks for taking a look at my card and for exploring new areas with me!!! 

Have a very lovely week!

<3 
Janis 

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Challenge #34 - Oriental Sketch
2.  All Sorts Challenge Week #256 - Oriental
3.  Red Rubber Designs #117 - Postage Due 
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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
Othello, Andromeda, and Aliyah are moping around because my son is gone visiting relatives out of state. Chaienne doesn't care and Whiskers probably doesn't even notice, but the other three are depressed, restless, and out of sorts. Othello, in particular, is bonded on to my son. Othello is a guy-cat and considers me a very poor substitute for his best friend. Tonight, Andromeda was standing on a chair and clasping her paws around the doorknob of my son's closed bedroom door trying to open it and get in. Sometimes she is too smart for her own good!
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Another Butterfly Card in Pastels

"Work -- other people's work -- is an intolerable idea to a cat.  Can you picture cats herding sheep or agreeing to pull a cart?  They will not inconvenience themselves to the slightest degree."
                                                                             ---------- Louis J. Camuti 



Hi, Friends......

Can you allow me one more Serendipity Butterfly card?????  As you know, I am absolutely loving this die set and have been delighted with the cards I've made using it.

This is the last in the series of four retirement cards showing appreciation and thanks to some dear ladies who volunteered many hours at the Hope Center over the last number of years.  

You can see the other cards in my series here: 

First Card -- Floral Profusion 
Second Card --  Floral with Gold Accents

Third Card -- Layered CAS Floral

I used more of my K&Co. patterned paper for this card and laid a doily down to provide a focal background for my butterfly.

I glued the two butterfly die cuts together and used glitter only on the lattice for some wonderful iridescent sparkle.  LOVE this.

The lovely flourish is actually two identical pink Zva strands that I put together almost end to end.  Can you see where they repeat?  I am getting braver about using my Zva items.  Love them!!!  Some stick-on pearls and a bow finished up my card. 

Thanks for letting me share this series of retirement cards with you.  Hope you enjoyed them.

<3
Janis

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Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.   Created with Love Challenges #80 -  In the Garden 
2.   Blogger's Challenge - Bling it On
3.   Crafter's Cafe Challenge #60 - Add Glitter
4.   The Sisterhood of Crafters - Things with Wings 
5.   Stempelgarten Challenge - Pastel Color Mix  
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Layered CAS Floral Card

"To escort a cat on a leash is against the nature of the cat."
                                                          --------Adlai Stevenson

Hi, Friends.....

Today I have the third in my series of cards given to the dear retirees at the Hope Center.  You can find the others here:  

First Card -- Floral Profusion

Second Card --  Floral with Gold Accents

I went more CAS - clean and simple - with this card than with my others in the series.  I will call this a Layered CAS.  Sometimes I find a simpler card very restful, especially with the neutrals that I used with the aqua (looks more bluish in photo).

This is my first test-run with my Sizzix Originals - Build a Lilac die set. Wow.....loved working with this original style bulky die:  cuts through my papers like butter....much better than the wafer-thin dies, but it takes a lot more room to store these.




I did not feel constrained to use purple for my lilacs, as you can see.  :)   The papers are K&Co, except for the DCWV brown panel and the little strip of Studio 112 button trim.  LOVE the sweet polka-dot flowers......and I was able to use all scraps on this card, except for the button trim!!

I at first used white glitter for the centers and then thought they needed to be yellow, so I added some yellow glitter glue over the top.

I finished the card with Glossy Accents on the button border and a satin bow.

Hope you enjoyed the simpler design of this card.  I look forward to using this Lilac die set again.  I might even use purple next time!  :)

<3
Janis

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Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge R#173 Use Up Some Scraps 
2.  Just Add Ink Challenge #212 - Color Combo
3.  Get Inky Challenge - Die Cuts 
4.  CASology Week #92 - Garden 
5.  Emergency Crafters Challenge - PolkaDots
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Floral with Gold Accents

"To please himself only the cat purrs."
                  -----Irish Proverb


Hi, Friends......

I am back with the second in the series of four cards for the retirees at our Hope Center.  You can see the other one that I posted so far HERE.


This one has subtle colors in pale aqua, cream and pale apricot, but I think the metallic gold accents really liven it up.

I used a couple different brands of flowers for this card.  The dreamy, translucent ones are LaLiberi (which I got on JoAnn clearance) and the others are Prima.

The dazzling glass center of the middle flower is also clearance LaLiberi.  I LOVE how it glows when the light hits it just right!!




The gold polka-dot paper is from my DCWV stash and the swirly flower patterned paper is K&Co. 

Here's a side shot where you can see the gleam of the metallic gold in the dotted panel and in the gorgeous gold lacy ribbon.  I do love gold!!!  Also, you can see the pretty sparkle of the Prima flower with the pearl center.  

Hope you enjoyed seeing this pretty floral card with the gold accents.  I love it when you take time to leave comments and would also love for you to become a follower (use gadget in sidebar) if you are so inclined.  :)

Have a lovely week.  I hope your spring weather is better than ours has been for the last few days!!! 

<3

Janis

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Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:

1.  Digi Sketch Challenge 14th April - Floral Challenge 

2.  Through the Purple Haze Challenges #38 - Creativity Strikes

3.  Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #81 Easter / Spring Colors

4.  That Craft Place - Anything Goes / Easter

5.  613 Avenue Create Challenge #68 - Anything Goes

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Floral Profusion

(This cat quote is dedicated to my 3 year old granddaughter...)
"No one can have experienced to the fullest, the true sense of achievement and satisfaction who has never pursued and successfully caught his tail."
                                                     --------Rosalind Welcher


Hi, Friends.....

Today I am sharing the first of four cards that I made for some sweet honorees at a retirement party given by the Hope Center where I volunteer.  These ladies dedicated many hours to our clients and their children.  Their contributions over the years are appreciated and their lovely smiles are missed!!!  

Many thanks and much love to you:  Pat, Marian, Irene, and Stella.  We are so blessed to have been able to work beside you!!!






On this card, I was going for an explosion of flowers in the pretty aqua, white, and tan color combo.  I used K&Co. paper and lovely Prima and Pink Paislee flowers backed by a pretty doily.

I'd like to draw your attention to the gorgeous thrift store ribbon I used:  the delicious ribbon for the bow and also the lacy white ribbon with the elegant gold thread.  So shimmery and beautiful!


Hope you enjoyed my Floral Profusion card.  Have a lovely week!

<3
Janis

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Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Polkadoodles Challenge #16 - Springtime
2.  Hiding in my Craft Room #146 - Flowers 
3.  We Do Doobadoo Week #4 - Embellish It 
4.  Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenge #8 - Easter or Pastel Colors 
5.  Time 4 Scrap Challenge #38 - Springtime
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Golden Easter Card Chosen as Winner - Perfectly Rustics

"Artists like cats; soldiers like dogs."     
                           ----Desmond Morris


Hi, Friends.....

I am delighted to be able to share that my Golden Easter Card was chosen as the winner in the Perfectly Rustics Golden Easter Challenge.  There
were only a few entries, but I am still excited!  :)

 

So, now I get to display their Winner's Rosette.  :)

Thank you, everyone at Perfectly Rustics, for the very inspirational challenge and for choosing my card as your winner!

<3

Janis